Argentinians demand justice over bombing

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Members of Argentina's Jewish community hold placards with the names of victims. AFP

Hundreds of people gathered outside a Jewish community centre in Buenos Aires on Sunday for the 10th anniversary of an Islamist bomb attack that killed 85 people. They were there not only to grieve for the dead but to demand justice for those behind the slaughter.

A siren sounded to mark the precise moment a truck bomb demolished the building. Jewish groups have described the bombing, in which more than 200 were wounded, as the worst anti-Semitic terror attack since the Second World War. Argentina and Israel have blamed Hezbollah terrorists, backed by Iran.

Relatives of the victims poured out their grief and frustration that the investigation had failed to yield a single conviction. Many believe that the Argentine Government has obstructed the course of justice.

Sergio Brunstein, of Active Memory, a group representing the victims, said: "This is a day of pain for all Argentina. That we know the names of those responsible and yet still fail to bring them to justice is a cause for national shame." A trial of those accused of aiding and abetting the perpetrators, which began almost three years ago, has failed to come to a resolution. Attempts to extradite an Iranian diplomat suspected of masterminding the attack have also proved fruitless.

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Ten months ago President Nestor Kirchner described the attack as "Argentina's Twin Towers" and pledged that the case would be resolved by his administration.